Matthew 8:27

But the men marvelled.

That his disciples should be astonished at the miracle accords with what is said of them on other occasions (Matthew 16:6-7; Mark 6:52; John 6:5-9; John 20:25).-- L. Abbott. They expected, indeed, that he would save them; but they were overwhelmed with the majesty and ease with which he issued his orders to the elements, and at the submission with which they, like living intelligences, are hushed by his word.-- Whedon. Such. miracle, wrought before those to whom the terrors of the lake were the highest natural danger, was best adapted to convince them of his power to save the soul. By it he also taught. lesson of faith, and warned against unbelief as well as attested to the mere lookers-on his divine power. All his miracles are displays, not only of power, but of love to lost men.-- Schaff.

What manner of man.

The words in Mark are naturally those of the disciples, and can easily be explained, not as expressing any ignorance or doubt as to the person of their Master, but unfeigned astonishment at this new proof of his control, not only over demons and diseases, but also over winds and waves, which they had seen, like human slaves, obey him at. word.-- J. A. Alexander.

PRACTICAL AND SUGGESTIVE.

FOLLOW ME.--Followers of Jesus must forsake the fondest ties when their Master calls to his work. Followers of Jesus must show decision and determination in their loyalty to his cause. When William Burns offered himself as. missionary to India, he was asked, "When will you be ready to go?" "To-morrow." "But how will you inform your parents, and bid them farewell?" "I will write to them." As he stood on the deck of the vessel, he held his Bible on high above his head, and his upraised Bible was the last object seen as the ship sailed away. When Hindus are converted and are about to be baptized, their parents often plead with them to pay them one more parting visit before taking. step that will cut them off from home altogether; and those who yield to these parental entreaties to go home for. visit never return, or do so only after. season in which they abandon Christianity, and conform to heathen religion again. This fact is the best possible commentary on, and explanation of,. passage which has seemed to some. hard requirement on Christ's part.

THE SHIP.--Ours is. ship on. voyage, not. ship in. harbor, so that the storms blow over us; but it is. ship in progress, battling with the winds and the waves. It is not the absence of danger, but the presence of Christ, which re-assures us. Our confidence is simply this: that Christ is in the ship, and that, when he is pleased to rebuke the tempest, the wind and the sea will obey him.-- MacDonald. So often has Christ preserved his Church in danger, from the storms of persecution and worldliness and false doctrine, and so often has she ridden triumphant over her enemies, that in every danger and trial that comes we feel assured that Christ will in due time again utter his "Peace, be still." But it is only the Church with Christ in it, the divine Savior, that is safe.

THE STORM OF LIFE.-- This lesson is the type of the soul in the storm of life. We are sailing in this life as through. sea; and the wind rises, and storms of temptation are not wanting. What shalt thou do to be delivered? Arouse him, and say, Master, we perish. He will awaken; that is, thy faith will return to thee, and abide with thee always. When Christ is awakened, though the tempest beat into, yet it will not fill, thy ship: thy faith will now command the winds and the waves, and the danger will be over.-- Augustine. Carrying out this allegory, we may observe: (1) Christ's presence does not prevent our ship of life from being endangered; but, if he is with us, it cannot be shipwrecked. (2) Our unuttered but often heartfelt reproaches of. seemingly indifferent Christ, "Carest thou not that we perish?" are always unjust. (3) To timid disciples, who imagine, because of sudden and serious storms, that all is lost, for themselves, their children, the nation, or the Church, Christ still says, "Why are ye fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?" (4) He does not always bring the help he might, nor as soon as he might (comp. Mark 6:48; John 11:6). But he asks us to trust him that be will deliver.

SIN TEMPESTUOUS.--Sin always raises. storm, as it did in Jonah's case. All the diseases, oppressions, cruelties, gnawings of conscience, lives without hope, and hearts without rest, are. part of the tempest raised by sin. But the greatest fury of the storm is in the future. In this world we see but the little cloud, compared with the tornado and hurricane yet to come. There is no human escape from this storm. No earthly voice can bid the winds and waves to cease. But Christ, by his forgiving love, says, "Peace, be still," for all that call on him, and arches over all the bow of peace.-- P.

POINTS FOR TEACHERS.

The lesson to-day is. parable in action. It teaches us as did the scenes in the house of the Interpreter, in "Pilgrim's Progress." It was. symbol of THE TEMPEST OF SORROW, OF SIN, OF OUTWARD DIFFICULTIES, AND THE WAY TO FIND PEACE. (1) Note first the storm (Mark 4:35-37), and how sin brings. storm; how the opposition to every good cause, to the Church, is like. storm; how trouble is often like. storm, while life is like. sea. (2) Christ is asleep in the storm (ver. 38). As he often seems hidden in hours of danger. But every soul or cause is safe if Christ is really in it. Mark how this teaches Christ's human nature, as his "Peace, be still," does his divine nature, and draw out the lessons of comfort and trust which each fact brings. (3) Going to Christ in trouble (vers. 38, 40). They were afraid because they had so little faith: they went to Christ because they had some faith. Christ the only one to go to. (4) Peace (vers. 39-41). Christ's power over nature, because he was the creator of nature (John 1:3). Therefore he can make all things work together for our good (Romans 8:28). Jesus will bring every soul that trusts in him, and every cause in which be is, safely out of every tempest. Bring together the promises to this effect.-- Peloubet. (6) Note still further that the only way of safety is to follow close to Jesus, and to do this we must leave every hindrance to follow him. (6) The place of safety is to be where Jesus is, in the same boat with him, every interest the same. Away from Jesus when the storm comes we will go down.